Greater Bee Fly

Subject: Bee or Fly? Location: Andover, New Jersey April 19, 2014 9:10 am I found several of these little guys sucking up nectar on some hyacinths this morning. Haven’t seen these before and am thinking that it is some sort of mimic fly? Hoping you can help. Signature: Deborah Bifulco

Greater Bee Fly

Hi Deborah, These are amazingly detailed images of a Greater Bee Fly, Bombylius major, a species that if found in Europe as well as North America. As you have surmised, this is a fly that mimics a bee, and it is a pollinating species. Greater Bee Flies generally make their appearance early in the spring.